Antimicrobial resistance is a severe threat to child survival and health

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critically important challenge for the health of children globally. According to UNICEF’s technical note on antimicrobial resistance, time is really running out. Already in 2016, 40% of deaths among children under five years old and neonates were globally caused by diseases whose treatment is and will continue to be affected by the growing threat of drug-resistant infections. AMR is one of the greatest threats to child survival, health, and development. Children are more susceptible to AMR-infections because their immune system is not yet fully developed. In low-resource settings, they also have limited access to good hygiene and sanitary conditions that would control the spread of AMR-infections. The technical note describes UNICEF’s multi-sectoral activities that will have a direct and indirect impact on antimicrobial resistance in three priority areas: reducing the incidence of infection, promoting both optimal use and access to antimicrobial agents, and increasing awareness and understanding of AMR.

The UNICEF’s technical note on antimicrobial resistance is available here: https://www.unicef.org/documents/time-running-out